suryakiran

Team StratFront
Dec 1, 2017
1,017
1,303
Bangalore
The Pakistani Army is a state unto itself. The view that Pakistan is not a state with an army, but the Pakistani Army is an army with a State is not without merit. The way we deal with Pakistan needs to be seen from that perspective. Our failure to formulate a long term strategy at the military level is one of the main reasons we find it difficult to respond to the terrorist activities of Pakistan. Why are we unable to bring about a change in behaviour in Pakistan. Is there a fundamental error on how we view them? If trade and economic incentives have not achieved our goals, how do we inflict pain? Pain where it hurts. This is what we are going to try and understand.


Hitting Where It Hurts

Feb 26th 2019, is an important day in the history of modern India. The use of Indian air power, in what is essential an area inside Pakistan, was a first since 1971. While the surgical strikes were carried out by Indian troops inside Pakistan occupied J&K, the air strikes were carried out across the international border. For all practical purposes, this was a red line not crossed before.

The response was the PAF attempt to take 'revenge'. The resulting drama and spin by the DGISPR of the Pakistani state gave insights into the strength and weakness of our response. The flip flops by the DG-ISPR further revealed the desparate attempts made by the Pakistani Army to put forth its narrative of success on an operation of failure. The spin over the 'doosra banda" is something which will haunt the Pakistani Army forever.

The entire saga played out over that week, shows that we still do not understand the Pakistani state and it's levers. What have we achieved with the strike on Balakot? The accepted narrative seems to be, we sent a message. The message being, we will hit terror camps even if they are in Pakistani territory and the Pakistani state has been bluffing about the nuclear trigger.

Strategic Restraint
The Indian response till date has always been of strategic restraint. One which portrays the country as a responsible and mature democracy. While the world admired and applauded the same, the target of such a policy understood it as India being a soft State, unable to respond to provocative acts of terrorism. Also, with the distinction being made in Pakistani policy jargon of state actors and non-state actors made it difficult to respond in an effective manner. This emboldened the usage of the term non-state actors in the Pakistani foreign policy language. This also results in the Pakistani narrative of moral support to banned terrorist organisations like Jaish e Mohammad, Lashkar e Taiba and others. The Indian State, till date, has been unable to provide a decisive answer to this moral support. Be it 1993 Mumbai bombings, Parliament in 2001, Akshardham in 2002, Mumbai train bombings in 2006, 26/11 attacks in 2008 and many more. This concept of moral support extends to Pakistan based terrorist organisations and through them to other disgruntled organisations in India. But, the fundamental, foundational support comes from the Pakistani state. Consecutive Indian governments have been unable or disinterested in pushing a counter moral support program. The entire concept of overt strategic restraint, hence, becomes redundant in the absence of a covert moral support program. The result is a punching bag, which once in a while can swerve, but otherwise has to take hits and still be firm.

Costs

While another member has appreciably explained the costs associated with the recent Balakot operation, I am going to try and look at it from a broader perspective.

If we were to look at the psychological, economic and diplomatic cost that we are currently pursuing, we can come to the following basic conclusions.
Psychological costs run both ways. In a country like Pakistan, which has seen multiple terms of military rule, the effect of the cost is low. In a democratic systems, the cost levied by a combative opposition can have a negative effect on the incumbent government. In this scenario, while the cost levied on Pakistan can be high, the effect of that cost is not enough to deter. But, the cost on India will result in a more than proportionate effect, due to a polarisation between the main political parties.

Economic costs, too, do not seem to have much of an effect on the Pakistani state. The Pakistani state has endured sanctions and still the GDP (adjusted for PPP) per capita has been getting better. This will mean the basic Pakistani's living conditions are improving. Their motivation to deviate from the Pakistani narrative, therefore does not exist. Add to this the fact, that, Pakistan always finds a saviour. Be it the Saudis or Chinese or Americans. If CPEC needs to succeed, it will be in the interest of the Chinese to ensure Pakistan does not economically collapse. If not the Chinese, the Americans will step in to take their place. Economic costs, therefore can be borne by the Pakistani state by playing one power with the other. Also, macroeconomic costs taken a much longer period to have an effect on the general populace. A population which has been radicalized even more so.

A diplomatic cost also will result in the same problem. There will never be a consensus in dealing with the terror organisations which specifically target India. The UN resolution on banning Masood Azhar comes to mind, which was deliberately blocked by China. If Pakistan takes action to reduce attacks on American soldiers, one can expect a reduction in American pressure on Pakistan.

An Effective Cost
As can be seen from the above, none of the said costs will have an effect which is desired by India, deterring the Pakistani state from supporting terrorist organisations. Then the question arises, what does the Pakistani Army thrive on. It thrives on being accepted by the Pakistani public at large as the institution which knows best what is good for Pakistan. This is the 'view' that needs to become a cost.

One of the ways to do it would be using media to bring out the corruption levels within the Pakistani military and make that the lead in exposing the PA. But, the blowback can/will be the Pakistani population may rally behind the military. The PA with its ability to inflict coups will quickly turn this into a witch hunt of the media. This therefore cannot be the lead in disgracing the military.

Economic costs on Pakistani military owned institutions through sanctions will require buy-ins from the major powers. And as explained earlier is wont for execution.

The true hurt will lie in attacking the Pakistani military in the area which it is supposed to excel. If one were to look at the 1971 war, this was the only time the Pakistani state actually felt the pain inflicted on it. Even in 1980s, the loss of Siachen hurt the psyche of the Pakistani Army. Even today Pakistanis claim their army is based on Siachen. Siachen is a festering wound which was one of the causes of Kargil. This means, loss of territory is what pains the Pakistani Army. Loss of territory, also causes the Pakistani army to lose face in front of the masses.

Continuous loss of territory is something which will hurt the Pakistani Army and the Pakistani public at large. The immediate response of opponents to this line of thought, will be the nuclear threat. The Pakistani state has a habit of talking about the nuclear threat at the drop of a pin. The question to ask is what is the nuclear red line?

The Nuclear Red Line
A covert cross border raid? No. An over air strike? No. These are what we are aware of today. Will a limited armoured thrust into Sindh result in crossing the red line? Will an invasion of PoJ&K result in crossing the red line? Will a thrust towards Lahore, without capturing the city cross the red line?

The nuclear red line, I believe, will be the imminent threat to the survival of the Pakistani state. A thrust to break the country, using military means will result in breaching of the nuclear red line.

Cost with Effect

This cost will be 2 fold. Loss of territory and loss of control of territory.
Continuous capture of territory by the Indian armed forces, via covert or overt assaults in areas which do not cross the nuclear red line will result in loss of territory. This should start with PoJ&K, intrusions across the IB to protect against insurgents crossing (a buffer zone), aggressive patrolling in the Sir Creek area and continuous capture of territory.

The capture of territory, will initially result in a very strong anti-India sentiment in Pakistan. But continuous loss of territory will result in questions being raised about the effectiveness of the Pakistani military leadership. Every capture of territory, should be followed up with leaks of scams (real/imaginary) concerning the military leadership. Information or news regarding military men running companies which compete with civilian business should be portrayed as crony military capitalism. Movies depicting capture of Pakistani territory should be produced with leading actors and promoted throughout the world.

While the above will be direct contact program, indirect programs which will result in loss of control of territory should also be implemented. Balochistani nationalist feelings should be given full moral support and a platform for grievances should be provided. This should also involve nurturing of Balochi youth into think tanks in the West. Increased spends should be provided for lobbying groups for the Baloch cause. The Pashtun dominated areas need to be encouraged to rebel against the Pakistani state. The legality of the Durand Line should be brought in for scrutiny in the eyes of the world at large.

This policy will need to be implemented with the buy-in of the major political parties, irrespective of which government is in power. The Indian population will need to be provided a narrative of rightful defence. At the same time, care should be taken to ensure the Indian population does not get influenced to be part of any of the resistance movements within Pakistan. This should be restricted as arm of state policy.

The above requires taking the fight to the enemy. Moving from reactive policy to an active policy. Dropping the notion of Strategic Restraint and replacing it with a policy of Strategic Intent.
 
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we could have escalated if Pakistan did not agree to sent back Abhinandan. it's a responsible behavior of a country ... we shouldn't behave like a warmongering nation. Pakistan tries to bomb day time since they don't have the capability to bomb in the night time and in the day time also they couldn't able to drop the bomb correctly? All the bombs they dropped failed to hit the target even they hit in the day time lol. Ask PAF to give a statement that IAF showed an MSPaint radar image.
Well, then, a responsible country ensures its military objectives are met. Otherwise, whats the point of risking the lives of our soldiers? Defending territory from foreign invader comes in that. Vis-a-vis China that is not happening.
Another objective is that terrorism is controlled and eliminated. We have failed to bring that under control because we have a nation that is one tenth of our size is supporting them.
All our bombs hit their targets with the exception of one, where the bomb did not fire.

Satellite images also confirmed it.

False, those "holes" are actually sensor errors. I have the complete Digital Globe picture and such kind of "black edges" in high contrast areas are seen in multiple places, totally unrelated to this building.

Here is one example from the same file :
1596008325368.png


See the "holes" in the boundry?
 
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Well, then, a responsible country ensures its military objectives are met. Otherwise, whats the point of risking the lives of our soldiers? Defending territory from foreign invader comes in that. Vis-a-vis China that is not happening.
Another objective is that terrorism is controlled and eliminated. We have failed to bring that under control because we have a nation that is one tenth of our size is supporting them.
Who said we didn't meet the objective If there will be another major terrorist attack in India by Pakistan. Can Pakistani establishment say we have nuclear bombs and the consequence will be dangerous? India will strike again that fear factor was necessary for Pakistani and we achieve the same. China is not Pakistan. we have to give proof against Chinese aggression but in the case of Pakistan, it's easy as they are terrorist states.
 
Well, then, a responsible country ensures its military objectives are met. Otherwise, whats the point of risking the lives of our soldiers? Defending territory from foreign invader comes in that. Vis-a-vis China that is not happening.
Another objective is that terrorism is controlled and eliminated. We have failed to bring that under control because we have a nation that is one tenth of our size is supporting them.

False, those "holes" are actually sensor errors. I have the complete Digital Globe picture and such kind of "black edges" in high contrast areas are seen in multiple places, totally unrelated to this building.

Here is one example from the same file :
View attachment 16948

See the "holes" in the boundry?
Pakistan did not let the media to enter that building for 45 days and the media was doing the jungle safari showing some dead birds. Suddenly after 1 and a half month that place was open for sightseeing. Something fishy?
 
Do
Well, then, a responsible country ensures its military objectives are met. Otherwise, whats the point of risking the lives of our soldiers? Defending territory from foreign invader comes in that. Vis-a-vis China that is not happening.
Another objective is that terrorism is controlled and eliminated. We have failed to bring that under control because we have a nation that is one tenth of our size is supporting them.

False, those "holes" are actually sensor errors. I have the complete Digital Globe picture and such kind of "black edges" in high contrast areas are seen in multiple places, totally unrelated to this building.

Here is one example from the same file :
View attachment 16948

See the "holes" in the boundry?
Doesn't explain why the Pakistanis closed the madrassas for the next 45 days. There is enough circumstantial evidence to prove that the attacks were successful. I think there are no good sat pics available of the strike. There is already some confusion regarding what was hit at the site. Also some of the other sat pics showing strikes were just shadows of trees and nearby structures. IAF claimed that their SAR satellite proved that the strikes had happened but didn't release it because confidentiality.
And regarding the Chinese we have had a much more hardline approach compared to the good ol' days of whimpering maino and ghulam manmohan...
 
Doesn't explain why the Pakistanis closed the madrassas for the next 45 days. There is enough circumstantial evidence to prove that the attacks were successful. I think there are no good sat pics available of the strike. There is already some confusion regarding what was hit at the site. Also some of the other sat pics showing strikes were just shadows of trees and nearby structures. IAF claimed that their SAR satellite proved that the strikes had happened but didn't release it because confidentiality.
Actually there is more direct evidence to the contrary.
 
Actually there is more direct evidence to the contrary.

My take is: Pulwama to Balakot was something which would have given enough excuse to India to abolish A370. Had it been attempted without those events, there could have been massive uproar by opposition and in the world. Apart from that I don't consider it an actual manifestation of a strike. It was planned to escalate without any smoke and fire after Pulwama.
 
My take is: Pulwama to Balakot was something which would have given enough excuse to India to abolish A370. Had it been attempted without those events, there could have been massive uproar by opposition and in the world. Apart from that I don't consider it an actual manifestation of a strike. It was planned to escalate without any smoke and fire after Pulwama.
As much as I know, abrogation of A370 was in works for very long time. Unless we planned for Pulwama (which is a conspiracy theory, I am not ready to believe), I find it hard that these events are so well interlinked.
 
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My take is: Pulwama to Balakot was something which would have given enough excuse to India to abolish A370. Had it been attempted without those events, there could have been massive uproar by opposition and in the world. Apart from that I don't consider it an actual manifestation of a strike. It was planned to escalate without any smoke and fire after Pulwama.
Nope, pulwama attack actually slowed the process if not it would have announced a bit more earlier I suppose. Abolition of A370 was an item in election manifesto so not an overnight decision.
 
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Actually there is more direct evidence to the contrary.
It's funny how this Australian paper is the only one that has come no other strategic study has even given out a detailed report on it. And the galwan analysis also came from the Aussies. Funny considering how much chinese influence they have on themselves. This is the same Nathan ruser who was making wierd claims during galwan. But instead of attacking his credentials.
Let's see the official story of IAF. They had 5 spice 2000 according to them three hit the target the fourth one missed it. Now the Pakistanis never showed the blast fragments of the bomb if they missed considering penetrator bombs don't have as much explosives as regular bombs they could have displayed the bombs like we Indians displayed the sow bombs that missed. They instead lockdown the madrassa and do not let anyone enter the premises of the said target .
That Italian Marino journalist said that around 43-50 bodies were identified being taken by ambulances. Also they close there airspace. The bombs are shown to be in an hilly area by the Pakistanis but Nathan rusers pics are at a flatter ground. He is just manipulating the contrast glitch which you showed on your previous pic saying nothing was hit. Also a lot of foreign governments atleast claim that they had agree with the claim of the strikes. Every action of Pakistan post the balakot strike proves that they were hit hard.
 
It's funny how this Australian paper is the only one that has come no other strategic study has even given out a detailed report on it. And the galwan analysis also came from the Aussies. Funny considering how much chinese influence they have on themselves. This is the same Nathan ruser who was making wierd claims during galwan. But instead of attacking his credentials.
Let's see the official story of IAF. They had 5 spice 2000 according to them three hit the target the fourth one missed it. Now the Pakistanis never showed the blast fragments of the bomb if they missed considering penetrator bombs don't have as much explosives as regular bombs they could have displayed the bombs like we Indians displayed the sow bombs that missed. They instead lockdown the madrassa and do not let anyone enter the premises of the said target .
That Italian Marino journalist said that around 43-50 bodies were identified being taken by ambulances. Also they close there airspace. The bombs are shown to be in an hilly area by the Pakistanis but Nathan rusers pics are at a flatter ground. He is just manipulating the contrast glitch which you showed on your previous pic saying nothing was hit. Also a lot of foreign governments atleast claim that they had agree with the claim of the strikes. Every action of Pakistan post the balakot strike proves that they were hit hard.
Its not just the analyst, its the approach he took. It is fairly standard and it indeed suggests what he is suggesting. The source of data is PlanetLab's satellites. Plus later satellite images also tell the same story.
 
Its not just the analyst, its the approach he took. It is fairly standard and it indeed suggests what he is suggesting. The source of data is PlanetLab's satellites. Plus later satellite images also tell the same story.


I find it amusing that we are still stuck on it.

Confirmed it was a hit. And I take a real close look at things and usually attract the brickbats while at that :D
 
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Its not just the analyst, its the approach he took. It is fairly standard and it indeed suggests what he is suggesting. The source of data is PlanetLab's satellites. Plus later satellite images also tell the same story.
The approach is great and all but things happening on the ground seems to go against the narrative shown by the satellites.
 
I find it amusing that we are still stuck on it.

Confirmed it was a hit. And I take a real close look at things and usually attract the brickbats while at that :D
Could you enlighten us with your version?
Because I haven't heard or read a very compelling version myself. My conclusions come from circumstantial evidences rather than actual evidence...
 
I find it amusing that we are still stuck on it.

Confirmed it was a hit. And I take a real close look at things and usually attract the brickbats while at that :D
If that is the case, then we have lost the war of perception. May be blowing out the entire damn building would have been a more clear sign.
 
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Sorry, they are here for a fight and they dont mind anything. Forget about what this idiot says. The game is on. Modi has been challenged and so is India. We need to show China who is the real boss of Asia.
Chinese want to legitimize their aggression. Its plain and simple. There are two ways around this. One is keep on doing the diplomacy diplomacy game while keep on eating their aggressive moves and keep on highlighting it in international arena. Since we are PERCIEVED as weaker country it will be great to play that card and internationalize the conflict and aggression (but not the underlying LAC issue).

Other way is to give a massive and an extremely brutal response to China that it forces it fall back. After that go full diplomatic. World will fall in line and so will China.

From the looks of it we are not in mood for second option. For first we are doing a piss poor job.
 
Chinese want to legitimize their aggression. Its plain and simple. There are two ways around this. One is keep on doing the diplomacy diplomacy game while keep on eating their aggressive moves and keep on highlighting it in international arena. Since we are PERCIEVED as weaker country it will be great to play that card and internationalize the conflict and aggression (but not the underlying LAC issue).

Other way is to give a massive and an extremely brutal response to China that it forces it fall back. After that go full diplomatic. World will fall in line and so will China.

From the looks of it we are not in mood for second option. For first we are doing a piss poor job.
May be we r preparing for the second option. Who knows
 
India could have laid all speculation to rest by releasing more convincing evidence than some MS-Paint images. Burden of proof lies with those who make claim.
This is a national security matter , not salman khans big boss reality show.
Notice how the Pakistanis didnt reveal till now how many of their soldiers were butchered in kargil or kept the media out of the balakot madrassa for 40 days .
Or China does not give any details on the lac situation.
And people like you want a live telecast from the unit hq. Very childish behavior